Typical comment from someone that has little or no experience with children.

Once upon a time, most kids has contact with dogs in some way, as they were (generally) allowed to roam. Times have changed. Many, many children have ZERO experience with dogs. For a large dog (remember even small/medium sized dogs look pretty large to a child) to come charging over when you have no experience with them IS intimidating. A typical responce to this situation from a child would be to cry.

As for the comments on people walking in areas where dogs are off the lead - TOUGH!! people can walk wherever the heck they want, when they want. A responsible owner won't let their dog off the lead without a decent recall, nor would they put their dog in a situation where it can bother others. Dogs are getting banned from public places left right and centre. If we don't want this continue, we need to start taking responsibility and stop shifting the blame on others...crying kids, moody parents, non dog owners.

lol, me too... probably a good job im not having any

I work with young people and I have seen a marked change in values over the past few years. Things like courage and self-reliance have gone out of the window and now children are `protected` to within an inch of their lives. I am generalising here of course - everyone knows nice `normal` kids who are allowed to get dirty and whose parents don`t see a solicitor if the child gets a bruise. Unfortunately they are balanced by the ones who feel the world has to Protect them - like the boy of about 12 I saw the other day in (temper) tears because his mother had parked next to a grass verge. He was screaming at her "But I`ve got my new trainers on! They`ll get muddy!" And yes, Mother did move the car.
I agree that some children are afraid of dogs, but surely the responsible thing for parents to do is to help them face their fears? Not abolish dogs?

Most don't care enough to do that unfortunately. Or have the time...it seems as though everyone is pressed for time nowadays.

I used to be a Nursery Nurse and have been around young children all my life. I obviously wouldn't literally wallop it, but the point I was making is that I would not condone that behaviour in a child. IMO having a child is like having a puppy and they need to be socialised with things from an early age.

There is no need for us to be in this ridiculous "nanny culture" that we are in these days. The effects of it are there for all too see, rude, disrespectful, unruly children. It's why I left childcare.

Hmmmm. Tough one.
I have to say I had a comment the other day when Cosmo was onlead and calm, not paying attention to anything but the hotdog in my hand...the comment was directed at a child who said to her dad (Ithink) 'look at that big dog' and he said'yes, come away it looks like it would bite you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
I ask you....

The tip side of that though is the work Cosmo and Mo before him, have done with dog phoebic kids...who now run up to Cosmo just to give him a tickle.

I am careful in parks when my dogs are offlead as I know they love kids...but am aware that not all kids will love them, or understand that, so I have a 'close' command (that does what it says on the box) which I use with a bit of encouragement from more hotdog, or the ball. People seem to really appreciate it and instead of dirty looks and comments, we tend to get 'look at that lovely doggy..'

I agree with what someone else said (sorry not quite sure who) in that it is up to us to show people how good our dogs are,because they are ebing banned from places left right and centre and that will continue to happen, unless we are all very careful and resposible.

I walked past a group of teenagers out on an orienteering thing last week, they were on a break near the cafe...I got Cosmo in a 'close' position (not because of the teengers, more the cafe...) and walked him past. The lady behond me let her large breed dog run up to them all, which created a LOT of screaming and excitement and dog jumping up...not good and not on, took her a couple of minutes to actually think it would be a good idea to go and get her dog.

I am not saying my dogs are perfectly behaved all the time and that they have never run up to children or people, but I do TRY to be very careful...accidents do happen though and we will all miss something, BUT in order to stop the anti dog lot in their tracks we really need to be hyper responsible.....

None of my comments are directed at anyone I hasten to add, they are merely the rants of an over tired woman!!!!

My dogs are fast quick & like to run about if off lead, they have a 100% recall, instant down & will turn on there name.

Whatsthe problem then?

BRATS!!!! groups of brats hanging off fences, woofing at the dogs then screaming, so completly winding them up. drives me insane. Its not the dog owners that are in the wrong its the parents producing rude igorant little f*****s like these. Im sick to death of being scared stupid incase some lying little brat gets scared & says the nasty dog bit her etc etc & suddenly my dogs are put to sleep.

Oh & when i get them in all walking behind me & the Family group gets half way past the child starts SCREAMING its head off & the mother picks it up & says i wont let the dirty dog get you...... OMG.... or the kid who sticks its hand out to grab the dog , or if i decide to let them talk sticks a finger in their eye!!!!!!

Lets not forgot for quite a few people on here their dogs are as good as their kids. to "us" dogs are more important than Kids. i realise to people with kids this isnt the case, thats WHY we differ, us with fur kids arent wrong we are just different than you human parents.

Oh Pidgy dearest we've obviously both learned a lot from our experiences in the Far East I do hope you don't get banned for that remark

Claire I really can't believe that, you're making it up surely God what future is there if that's the attitude.

Where I'm currently living children are far more respectful, polite, and well behaved than in UK and I put this down to the fact there is no way anyone can sue because little Johny fell down and scratched his knee. There are no ambulance chasers, no liabilty lawyers (except for industrial incidents) and no 'who can I blame' culture.

I think we've all been there and know exactly what was going through your mind.
Keeping working on him it'll come good soon I'm sure.